New Zealand and Australia have qualified for the Women's Rugby League World Cup final following victories in their respective semi-final matches on Saturday. The two sides will now compete for the title next Sunday.
New Zealand secured their place in the final by defeating Samoa 32-0 in a dominant display at the Mike Donald Jones Stadium. The Kiwi side maintained control throughout the match, keeping their opponents scoreless.
In the other semi-final, Australia earned a hard-fought 30-14 victory over tournament debutants Fiji. Abbi Church played a pivotal role for the Australians, scoring four tries to help her team reach their fifth consecutive World Cup final.
New Zealand's performance against Samoa was marked by a strong defensive effort and clinical execution. The team opened the scoring in the second minute with a try, setting the tone for a one-sided encounter.
Stacey Waaka delivered an impressive performance for New Zealand, completing a hat-trick of tries. Further contributions came from Mele Hufanga, Katelyn Vaha'akolo, and Risi-Mick Gregar, who each scored a try to seal the win.
New Zealand's defensive discipline was a key feature of the match, as they restricted Samoa to zero points. The team has now reached the World Cup final for the seventh time in their history.
Australia faced a tougher challenge against Fiji but managed to maintain their composure to secure the win. Church's four-try haul proved decisive in overcoming the spirited challenge from the debutants.
New Zealand will now prepare for the final match scheduled for next Sunday, where they aim to claim their fourth world title. The team last won the tournament in 2008 and is determined to end their recent run of final defeats.
Brief scores: New Zealand 32-0 beat Samoa 0. Australia 30-14 beat Fiji 14.
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